In order to help students succeed in school, a school social worker acts as an advocate for them, guiding them through a variety of issues such as emotional or behavioral problems, disabilities, and home difficulties. Leading individual or group talk sessions, speaking to classes about relevant topics such as self-esteem or bullying, and consulting with students’ families are all common responsibilities of a school social worker. She may be stationed at a single school or travel to several throughout the week. Most schools demand that social workers have a master’s degree and certification in the field.
In essence, a school social worker’s job is to assist students in navigating the many challenges that they may face as they progress through their education, both in and out of school. Some of these students may be dealing with serious issues at home, such as domestic violence or mental health issues. Others may require guidance as they begin to consider a career path or are faced with peer pressure. A school social worker may be called in to help teachers who are having difficulty connecting with a particular student. The social worker’s goal is to assist students in overcoming their unique challenges so that they can succeed in school.
Some school social workers devote a significant portion of their days to leading individual or group talk sessions in which students can talk about their problems and get advice. They may also speak to classes to educate students on topics such as drug resistance or dealing with sexual abuse. A school social worker frequently serves as a link between a child’s school and his family. As a result, the social worker may be required to meet with parents at their child’s school or at their home in order to discuss the child’s progress and, in some cases, to assess the home environment’s safety.
Some school social workers are assigned to only one school. Others are employed by a district to provide services to a number of schools. On a rotating basis, these social workers visit each of the assigned schools.
While the exact requirements for becoming a school social worker vary by country or region, many schools only hire those who have earned a master’s degree in social work with a focus on education. Many countries and states also require school social workers to be certified in the field. This certification is typically obtained after completing a master’s degree and a social work internship.